Mediteraneean Landscape 1932

Henri Catargi made this watercolour painting called ‘Mediterranean Landscape’, and what I love about it is its lightness. It's like a half-remembered dream of somewhere warm, painted with such delicate, washy colours. Look at how thin the paint is, almost transparent in places, especially in the sky. You can see the texture of the paper coming through, giving it a sort of breathiness. The buildings are just suggested, pale yellow and pink washes that barely define their edges. And then there’s that palm tree – not exactly realistic, but full of character. The palm looks to me like three thick strokes for the trunk and then bursts of watery green for the fronds. It’s so simple, yet it captures the essence of a Mediterranean scene. It reminds me of some of Dufy’s paintings with their breezy, effortless feel. It’s art as a conversation, Catargi talking to Dufy, and Dufy talking back. The beauty is that it doesn't need to be perfect or literal; it just needs to evoke a feeling, a memory, a moment.